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Section VI: Match Procedures
A. Requirements for Sanction:
1. To qualify for a sanctioned match, the hosting organization must first apply to the
State Director, National Director, or any Executive Director of IHMSA. Upon being awarded
the match, a match package consisting of required materials will be sent to the sponsoring
organization.
2. Upon completion of the match, a sanction fee for each registered
entry, including re-entries, together with a copy of the Match Recap Sheet, must be sent
to IHMSA Headquarters within 30 days. Sanction fees are US $1.00 per registered entry.
Said reports and sanction fees should be mailed to: IHMSA, Inc., P.O. Box 368, Burlington,
IA 52601-0368. For Affiliated Nations, such reports and sanction fees are to be sent to
the National Director within 30 days.
If a club discounts its entry fee for Junior competitors by an
amount of 50% or more, the $1.00 sanction fee is waived for Junior entries.
B. Range
layout/target set up
1. A silhouette range consists of a firing line and four different target lines for
each of the four animals (chickens, pigs, turkeys, rams). Distances from the firing line
to the animals for Big Bore, Small Bore and Field Pistol are specified in Section III-B,
IV-B, and V-B, respectively.
2. A silhouette range may be set up on an existing high power range.
If desired, it can be put in a natural setting such as a ravine or canyon. Trees and brush
need not be moved, and variation in height above and below the firing line is allowed and
desirable.
3. Improvements such as paved firing line, firing line cover, or
dirt berms behind the targets are optional, unless required for safety considerations.
4. Target stands are to be flat and level.
5. With the exception specified for setting Big Bore Rams (see
Section III-B-7), targets for all types of IHMSA competition should be set with the rear
edge of the targets foot/feet flush with the rear edge of the target stand.
6. Targets are to be in banks of five animals each. The recommended
distance between targets is the width of that animal.
7. Silhouettes will normally be painted with black paint. At a club
where the background prevents adequate target visibility, the sponsoring club shall have
the option to use other colors to facilitate target visibility.
8. Once a match is started, target color shall not be changed.
C. Sighter
targets/sighter shots:
1. Sighter targets of the official size and shape, and set at the correct distances
with the same approximate background as the match targets, are mandatory at championship
matches. There is to be a minimum of one sighter target at each distance.
2. Shooters will be allowed five sighter shots for each category in
which they are competing. The five shots must be taken during a normal two minute firing
period. Shooters will have the option of shooting at the targets of their choice.
3. No practice will be allowed before or during any sanctioned match
other than the five sighting shots which are allowed prior to the competitor firing for
record.
4. Sighter targets, or sighter shots, are allowed at the Match
Director's option at non-championship matches.
D. Gun Certification:
1. Guns must be weighed and checked before firing for score. No one may win an award
with an uncertified gun.
2. The Match Director shall appoint one or more persons to certify
guns in accordance with these rules. In the interest of safety, said person(s) shall be
experienced handgun silhouette competitors, or persons with the required knowledge.
3. When a competitor's gun is checked during registration, internal
inspection is not mandatory unless there is reason to believe it does not comply with the
Production gun rule. Then, said competitor may be asked to disassemble the gun to the
extent necessary to permit visual inspection by the jury.
4. Only the competitor, or a person he designates, shall remove or
replace parts from his gun. Upon inspection, the jury shall retire and discuss the matter.
A majority vote by the jury shall be final. The jury may also request information from
other knowledgeable persons to aid in making their decision. If the gun does not comply,
the competitor's entry with that gun shall not be accepted.
5. The use of a particular gun in competition will not be allowed if
the competitor refuses to comply with Section VI-D-3, above.
6. At State, Regional, National, or International Championships, the
match sponsor, upon request of the State, Regional, or National Directors, may require the
first, second, and third place competitors to submit their guns for inspection by the jury
as previously described. This should be accomplished as soon after the conclusion of
competition as is practical.
7. Only one handgun per category may be certified.
8. The same handgun, barrel, grips, sights, etc., shall be used
throughout a particular course of fire. (Exception: See Section VI-G-5)
E. Commands:
There are four commands given by the range officer (i.e., the individual responsible
for calling the line) at an IHMSA match. To ensure uniformity and avoid confusion on part
of the competitors, these commands should be used consistently by Range Officers at all
IHMSA-sanctioned matches:
1. "Shooters to the line" - given when the range is clear
to alert competitors to ready themselves on the firing line. Guns shall NOT be handled at
this time. Unloaded guns shall be in a safe and stable position on the firing line, with
the action open and visible to the Line Officer.
2. "Load" - Given at the start of a 30 second period in
which the shooter prepares to shoot, including (but not limited to) adjusting/blackening
sights, dry firing, and loading. Shooters shall not handle their guns until the
"Load" command has been given.
3. "Fire" - Given at the conclusion of the 30 second
loading period, it signifies the beginning of the two minute period to fire five shots.
4. "Cease fire...make your guns safe" - Given at the end
of the two minute firing period. When given, shooters must immediately unload their guns
and put them in a "safe" condition (i.e., unloaded with the action open). If a
shooter encounters any difficulty or delay in doing so, he should notify the Range Officer
immediately. Any shot fired after the beginning of the "Cease fire" command, or
audible signal if use, is a lost shot and shall be called as such by the Range Officer.
F. Scoring:
1. Scorecards shall be marked as follows (assuming a competitor has fired a shot at
the correct target):
a) an "X" is marked in the appropriate box if the target is knocked from the
stand as a result of the shot.
b) an "O" is marked in the appropriate box if the target
is still standing on the stand after the shot.
2. Targets are shot in sequence, left to right, one shot fired at
each target. If a target is shot out of sequence, it is scored as "O", as is the
intended target. The maximum penalty shall be two targets.
3. "Turning" a target on the stand, without knocking it
off the stand, will be scored as an "O".
4. A ricochet hit which knocks down the correct target will be
scored as an "X".
5. When there are wind conditions requiring the targets to be
fastened down (one or more in each bank), all hits on the target shall be scored as
"Xs". In championship matches, if one target in a bank must be secured
(clamped), all targets at that distance must be clamped and hits will be counted. Normal
target setting and scoring procedures are to be resumed, immediately, when wind conditions
allow.
6. If either foot of any pig or ram is completely off the stand, but
resting on the ground (or any other obstruction) so as to prevent the target from falling,
the hit will be scored as an "X", even if the target is still standing with the
other foot still on the stand. Otherwise (except as provided in Section VI-F-5, above), in
no case shall a hit target be scored as an "X" unless it is knocked down and/or
off its stand as a result of the shot taken by the competitor at that target.
7. If a target should be knocked down or blown over before being
fired at by the competitor, the remaining targets will be fired at in order. If the
competitor has one of more of his five shots remaining after the firing at each of the
available targets, he should return to the left end of his bank of targets and fire his
remaining shots at the targets which are still standing. If no targets are available and
shots remain, see "Alibis", Section VI-G, below.
8. Whenever it becomes necessary for a competitor to shoot a five
shot string in other than a normal fashion (i.e., targets being engaged in their normal
left to right order), the competitor or his spotter should alert the scorer to ensure that
the shots will be scored correctly. All scoring differences must be resolved immediately
before either the shooter or the scorer leaves the firing line or commences another string
of fire at the same target.
9. The total number of X's for each five shot string is entered on
the scorecard. The totals for each five shot string are totaled to arrive at the
competitor's score. In the case of identical total scores, "reverse animal
count" will normally be used to break ties. In other words, the tied score with the
most number of rams would win. If the number of rams are equal, then the most turkeys
would win, and so on. Shooters with identical scores, including individual animal count,
will compete in a shoot off to break the tie (see Section VI-H, below). At the Match
Directors option, all numeric ties (regardless of individual animal count) may be required
to be shot off.
10. At all sanctioned matches, the scorer shall be any person other
than the shooter. The shooter's spotter or an adjacent shooter/spotter shall mark the
"X" and "O" entries on the scorecard. The score shall be verified by
another adjacent shooter/spotter who shall then sign or initial the score card in the
appropriate box. The shooter shall sign or initial the scorecard in the appropriate box.
It is the scorer's responsibility to ensure that:
- the correct entries are made on the score card
- the competitor observes the rules and time limits
- the competitor fires no more than five shots per string
- when strong winds exist, the targets are observed closely to distinguish between targets
knocked down by hits and those knocked down by the wind
11. If a competitor is found to have signed an incorrect score card,
that score will be disqualified. "Incorrect score card" is defined as a score
card with the number of targets scored as "Xs" not in agreement with the number
of targets for which the shooter should be credited per the rules above. The entry will
not be counted for any purpose, nor will the competitor be allowed a re-entry score in the
category that was disqualified.
G. Alibis:
1. The only alibi permitted in an IHMSA sanctioned match is when a target is not
available because it fell without being shot down by the competitor.
2. If a target is still standing in the competitor's bank, it must
be used for the alibi shot within the normal two minute firing period. If a target is
available on either adjacent bank, it must be used for the alibi shot either within the
normal two minute firing period, or in a separate firing period, at the option of the
shooter. If there is confusion over whether targets on an adjacent bank are
"available" or have not yet been fired on, the competitor is not required to
shoot the alibi during the normal two minute period.
3. If enough targets are not available to complete the five shot
string on the competitor's bank or adjacent banks, the competitor's entire bank of targets
will be rest and the alibi targets will be shot in a normal left-to-right sequence,
regardless of which targets fell causing the alibi.
4. If alibi shots are to be taken in a separate firing period, the
competitor will be given a 30 second loading period and a firing period of 24 seconds per
shot to complete the five shot string.
5. Pistol malfunctions and faulty ammunition shall not be cause for
an alibi or the allowance of extra firing time. Should a pistol fail to function during a
match, another pistol of the correct category may be substituted to complete the match.
This rule is not to imply that competitors may use more than one pistol an entry in one
category of competition, unless, their primary pistol has been damaged or broken, and the
Match Director or a Line Officer has examined said pistol and authorized its replacement.
Under no circumstances shall the malfunction of a competitor's pistol or ammunition be
allowed to delay the progress of a match. Targets not fired on due to equipment failure or
malfunction are judged lost targets and cannot be shot as an alibi.
H. Shoot offs:
1. The Match Director has the option to decide how to break all ties, so long as it is
listed in his program or posted at the range prior to the match. If the tie breaker option
is not listed or posted, reverse animal count shall be used. (See Section VI-F-9, above)
2. At all championship matches (State, Regional, National, and
International), first place in all categories and classes, including championship titles,
must be decided by shoot offs, in the event of tie scores. Other places may be decided by
reverse animal count or shoot offs, at the Match Director's option.
3. Shoot off targets for all championship matches must be visible,
steel, silhouette-shaped targets of chickens, pigs, turkeys, or rams. Targets may be of
any size and may be set in any combination of shapes and sizes. Standard scoring
procedures shall be used (see Section VI-F).
4. At all other matches, the Match Director may use any visible
shoot off targets capable of being knocked off the target stand at any distance of 200
meters/yards, or less.
5. Shoot off targets may be set at any distance, out to a maximum of
the actual distance used to set the match rams (200 meters/yards for Big Bore, 100
meters/yards for small bore and Field Pistol).
6. Shoot off targets may be of a different color than those used in
the match.
7. Shoot offs will be shot in five shot strings, at five targets for
each shooter, at the distance(s) agreed upon. Regular loading, firing, and time procedures
will be used.
8. Competitors must use the same gun used for the original course of
fire.
9. A "sudden death" shoot off format is not allowed.
I.
Trophies/Awards/Prizes:
1. The match sponsor must schedule all IHMSA classes for the type of competition being
held, and give at least one award in each class in which a properly classified shooter
completes the course of fire.
2. No match will be sanctioned by IHMSA where the value of any
prize, merchandise, or cash award to be competed for exceeds twice the entry fee paid by
the competitor. Trophy value is not included, although this rule does apply to any
merchandise, prize or cash which is awarded in lieu of a trophy.
3. All donated or bonus prizes, without exception, are to be awarded
in a manner whereby all competitors in the match are eligible on an equal basis. One
chance per competitor, not entry, is recommended.
J. Protests:
1. All rule interpretations and protests will be handled by a jury appointed by the
tournament director or Match Director. The jury should be composed of any senior IHMSA
officials who are present. The decisions of said jury shall, in all instances, be final.
2. All protests must be submitted to the match Director in writing,
accompanied by a fee of US$10.00, within one hour of any alleged violation. Should the
jury rule in favor of the protesting party, the fee shall be returned to that person. If
the jury rules in favor of the protested party, the fee will be paid to that person.
3. Any gun not previously inspected by a jury may be protested by
another competitor. However, no competitor shall be interrupted during the course of fire.
After the completion of firing, the competitor will be asked to make his gun ready for
inspection by a jury (see Section VI-D).
4. International Championship Protest Rules:
a) A member of the IHMSA Board of Directors will be appointed Protest Committee
Chairperson for an International Championship. That person will be responsible for
selecting a 5 to 7 person Jury (preferably comprised of Match or State Directors) to
handle protests at that International Championship. The Chairperson will also accept
protests and submit them to the Jury within a reasonable time period.
b) Official IHMSA Protest/Outcome Forms will be used to document a
protest, the Jury's decision, their names, and IHMSA numbers.
When the jury has reached its decision, it will give it to one of
the elected officers. At that point, the protestor and alleged violator will be advised of
the decision by one of the elected officers.
c) A protest must provide the specific information upon which it is
based.
d) Both the protestor and the alleged violator may appear before the
Jury to present their case, proof, and/or witnesses testimony.
e) Protests regarding EQUIPMENT, ILLEGAL POSITIONS, etc., will
remain subject to standard protest rules, and must be submitted within one hour of the
alleged violation. (See Section VI-J-2)
f) Protests on SCORES must be submitted within twenty-four hours of
the alleged violation.
g) All protests/complaints will be brought to a conclusion prior to
the Awards Ceremony. No protests/complaints will be accepted after the Awards Ceremony.
K. Championship matches:
1. Bids for State, Regional, or National Championships must be submitted to the
respective State, Regional, or National Director.
2. To host a State, Regional, or National Championship, a club must
have successfully held three prior sanctioned matches.
3. With the approval of the State, Regional, or National Director,
any club sponsoring a State, Regional, or national Championship has the option of holding
a closed tournament, open only to bonafide residents of that State, Region, or Nation. Any
closed tournament must be so listed in the printed program, as well as the match schedule
in the IHMSA News for USA matches.
4. Experienced Line Officers must be furnished by the host club at
all championship matches.
5. It is recommended that scorekeepers be furnished by the sponsor
at all championship matches.
6. Category and aggregate titles will be awarded only to competitors
who are considered to be residents of their respective State, Region, or Nation. When
competitors move into a new State, Region, or Nation, they will be considered a resident
in their new location after a period of thirty days. For championship matches, a
competitor may only claim resident status in one State, Region, or Nation in a calendar
year.
7. To participate in any State, Regional, National, or International
championship, a shooter must be classified in all categories in which he intends to
compete.
8. A competitor must complete a minimum of three entries in
non-championship matches within 12 months prior to entering any championship. The entries
may be completed at one match or several matches. Re-entry scores shall count toward
championship qualification. With respect to this requirement, Big Bore, Small Bore, and
Field Pistol competition will be considered separately. Entries may be in any category, or
combination of categories. The following entries may also be counted for championship
qualification:
-entries completed in NRA-sanctioned matches by IHMSA members who reside in the USA
-entries completed in non-affiliated Nations by IHMSA members who reside in non-
affiliated Nations
9. The International Championship match shall be under the
jurisdiction of the IHMSA Executive. The IHMSA Executive shall select and furnish trophies
and prizes. The hosting club, as chosen by the Executive Committee, shall supply the
range, targets, and coordinating activities. The IHMSA Executive shall administer the
entries and fees.
10. At the International Championships, only one trophy per person
per category will be awarded. No trophy will be awarded for 1st Place in the class of the
category champion.
L. Optional competition:
At the match sponsor's option, special awards may be made for competition including
(but not limited to) the following: high lady, high junior, cast bullet, and team events.
In the case of junior competition, a shooter will remain a "junior" shooter
until his 16th birthday. |
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